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Dad demonstrates how to calm a crying baby in 18 seconds flat

It's like magic.

Photo by Raul Angel on Unsplash

woman carrying smiling baby

Anyone who's had a baby knows how the sound of crying can feel like torture. Literally.

If you're lucky, you get a baby who rarely cries, but some babies spend weeks or months being screechy, colicky little fussbuckets whose unbearable cuteness is the only thing that keeps you from throwing them out the window. (If you haven't had one of those babies, that may sound horrifying, but if you know, you know.)

Sometimes babies cry because they're hungry, which is a problem easily fixed. Sometimes babies cry because their diaper is soiled—also an easy fix. Sometimes babies cry because they are clearly overtired—easy to fix on paper, but not always so simple in practice. Still, you at least know what's bugging them.

But sometimes babies cry and you can't figure out why. It might be gas, but they can't say, "My tummy hurts." Maybe they want to be held or cuddled, but not like that. Nope, not like that. Not like that, either. Perhaps they see all these big humans doing things they can't do and they're just mad about being a helpless baby. Who knows?

With fussy babies, the traditional "feed them, change them, rock them" advice often doesn't make a dent. The crying can make you feel like you're losing your mind, so if someone figures out a trick to get them to stop—even for a while—it feels like a godsend.

That's one reason this video of a dad demonstrating how he gets his baby to stop crying in 18 seconds flat has gone viral.

In a TikTok video, Jonathan, aka "Tuque Daddy," shows how he holds his 2-month-old son with one hand and wraps his little arms across his body in a "self hug" with the other. Then he holds one hand over the baby's arms and torso and the other cradling him under the diaper. A little gentle bobbing in this position and voila! Baby stops crying in 18 seconds.

Watch the magic happen (and just ignore the rogue "8" that gets stuck on the screen):

@tuquedaddy
Reply to @king.marcellius I wanna see people try!! Duet this and try if you can!! I wanna see y’all super heroes 🥰🥰🥰 #tuquedaddy #fypシ #parenting

See how even just a few seconds of that crying sends an electric jolt down your spine? It was enough for some commenters to say "Maybe I need to rethink wanting a baby." (My 13-year-old son came into the room while I was watching the video and said, "That's so annoying. How did you have babies?" Yep, that was you, dude. You're welcome. After the second viewing, he actually said, "Wow. Sorry.")

But then the unbearable cuteness comes in, doesn't it? Gracious, that little one's face at the end. It's amazing how quickly babies can take us from "Arrrrgh" to "Awwww."

And this daddy's gentle patience and reassurance is a beautiful cherry on top. "You alright, my boy?" So dang sweet.

Speaking of sweetness (and unbearable cuteness), check out Tuque Daddy's convo with his boy in another video:

@tuquedaddy
Paid actor 🤣 #tuquedaddy #fypシ #daddio #funny #baby #boy #dadsoftiktok @housecoatmommy

And as for the way he calmed the baby down? That's a legitimate technique that a "magician pediatrician" in Santa Monica, California shows the parents of his patients. Dr. Robert Hamilton has been treating babies and kids for more than three decades. His video describing "the hold" has been viewed more than 53 million times on YouTube and he has been featured in videos all around the world for his ability to almost instantly calm babies down.

If you have a baby in your life, give "the hold" a try the next time they're crying and see if the magic happens for you.

This article originally appeared on 2.16.22

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The late-night TV host's story might change how you think about our health care system.

His voice breaking and tears welling up in his eyes, Jimmy Kimmel delivered the most compelling 13-minute monologue of his career.

"I have a story to tell about something that happened to our family last week," he said at the top of his show on May 1, 2017. "Before I go into it, I want you to know it has a happy ending."

On April 21, his wife gave birth to a baby boy, William John Kimmel. Three hours later, an attentive nurse noticed the infant wasn't as healthy as he had seemed before. Three days later, Kimmel's newborn son underwent surgery to repair a congenital heart condition.

Images via Jimmy Kimmel Live/YouTube.

The most powerful and poignant part of Kimmel's monologue comes at the end.

"We were brought up to believe that we live in the greatest country in the world," Kimmel said, choking back tears about 10 minutes into the clip.

"But until a few years ago, millions and millions of us had no access to health insurance at all. You know, before 2014, if you were born with congenital heart disease, like my son was, there’s a good chance you’d never be able to get health insurance because you had a pre-existing condition."

Kimmel is a millionaire many, many times over, and as such, he can afford just about any medical treatment in existence. But whether or not a newborn baby deserves to live shouldn't hinge on that baby's parent's paycheck.

"If your baby is going to die and it doesn’t have to, it shouldn’t matter how much money you make. I think that’s something that whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat or something else, we all agree on that, right?"

Kimmel continued,

"We need to make sure that the people who represent us and people are meeting about this right now in Washington understand that very clearly. Let’s stop with the nonsense. This isn’t football. There are no teams. We are the team. It’s the United States. Don’t let their partisan squabbles divide us on something every decent person wants."

"We need to take care of each other," he concluded. "No parent should ever have to decide if they can afford to save their child’s life. It just shouldn’t happen. Not here."

As Congress considers a major health care overhaul that could leave those like Kimmel's son vulnerable, his emotional message has the power to change everything.

"We need to take care of each other. No parent should ever have to decide if they can afford to save their child’s life. It just shouldn’t happen. Not here."

As Kimmel said through tears, this isn't about him or his son, but those less financially fortunate. It's a truly must-watch piece of TV.

After she was diagnosed with cancer, her classmates came to the rescue.

She expected them to make fun of her. She was wrong.

Marlee watched as her teachers and peers stepped up to show their support for her, one by one. The look on her face says it all.

Marlee, seen here in the red dress with denim jacket, has received some major support from friends and teachers. All images by Boulder Daily Camera/YouTube.

Last year, her mom noticed a bump on Marlee's left foot. After it didn't go away (Marlee played soccer, so it made sense that it might be a sports injury), Marlee's mom took her to the doctor, where they learned the scary truth: It was cancer.

Doctors amputated Marlee's foot, after which she began chemo, causing her to lose her hair. Even after all she'd been through, Marlee worried about how her teachers and classmates would react to seeing her without hair.

She was in for a pleasant surprise.

Not only did her teachers and classmates accept her, but several of them decided to shave their own heads in the name of solidarity — and charity.

After setting up an account with the St. Baldrick's Foundation, a group that helps raise money to fight childhood cancer through head-shaving events, Marlee's teachers and classmates hopped into action.

More than 80 of her classmates shaved their heads or donated hair, and in total, the school raised more than $25,000 in just two and a half weeks.

Marlee had the honor of shaving one of her teachers' heads.

"I thought people would make fun of me, but people just supported me instead," she told the Broomfield Enterprise.

The outpouring of support was unexpected, touching, and just about everything you'd hope for in humanity.

Above all else, Marlee hoped to be able to help other kids with cancer, and in that, she succeeded. Big time.

The whole school turned up in support.

When it comes to childhood cancer, there are some troubling statistics.

For example, did you know that the average age of diagnosis for childhood cancer is 6 years old? Or that about 40,000 children undergo cancer treatment each year? Or that the majority of childhood cancer survivors experience later effects like fertility, heart failure, and other forms of cancer? Or that just 4% of federal cancer research funds go toward studying pediatric cancer?

It's rough out there, and that's what makes the community outpouring of support for Marlee all the more heartwarming.

Marlee finished her last chemo treatment in February, but the love and support from her schoolmates will stick with her forever.

To learn more about Marlee's story, check out this article at the Broomfield Enterprise or watch the video below.

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CancerLINC nonprofit provides support to cancer warriors - Upworthy ›

pediatrics

Dad demonstrates how to calm a crying baby in 18 seconds flat

It's like magic.

Jimmy Kimmel thanks hospitals for saving his son, slams Trump in teary opener.

The late-night TV host's story might change how you think about our health care system.

His voice breaking and tears welling up in his eyes, Jimmy Kimmel delivered the most compelling 13-minute monologue of his career.

The most powerful and poignant part of Kimmel's monologue comes at the end.

"If your baby is going to die and it doesn’t have to, it shouldn’t matter how much money you make. I think that’s something that whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat or something else, we all agree on that, right?"

After she was diagnosed with cancer, her classmates came to the rescue.

She expected them to make fun of her. She was wrong.

Marlee watched as her teachers and peers stepped up to show their support for her, one by one. The look on her face says it all.

Not only did her teachers and classmates accept her, but several of them decided to shave their own heads in the name of solidarity — and charity.

"I thought people would make fun of me, but people just supported me instead," she told the Broomfield Enterprise.

When it comes to childhood cancer, there are some troubling statistics.

Marlee finished her last chemo treatment in February, but the love and support from her schoolmates will stick with her forever.

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